No Holds Barred

November 14, 1997

One of the more more insidious tricks of the trade in the US Senate is the so-called "hold." Using this pseudo-parliamentary procedure, any senator can single-handedly block any piece of legislation or any nomination he or she cares to. And usually without the public having any idea who applied the "hold."

The Senate just had an opportunity to dilute, at least, this extreme form of minority rule. The measure would have made public the names of lawmakers who put holds on presidential nominees.